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The following question is from Melissa R.

“I am looking for online resources for homeschooling our toddler of two years old. She doesn’t talk much, so I am particularly interested in materials that will get her to verbalize more. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!”

Any suggestions for Melissa to encourage her Toddler to verbalize more?

123 Comments and 21 Replies

1

Ann On Monday, March 5 at 6:06 am

Home”schooling” a 2 year old? Isn’t that called “parenting”?

I, too, had a hardly verbal child. When he did talk, it was rarely understandable. We had his hearing evaluated (it was above average) and then his speech and language evaluated. The recommendations we were given were to ask questions requiring more than a yes or no answer and WAIT for the answer. (This was tough because our child had 2 older siblings just dying to jump in and answer for him!) Once he answered, we were instructed to repeat it back to him slowly and clearly. We were never to ask him to correct what he had said. Conversations sounded like this:
“Who is in this picture?” WAIT
……..”Grandma” (Which sounded like “Eemo”)
“Yes, G r a n d m a is in this picture.”

Almost everything he did say was repeated back to him slowly for a year or so. After a time we also encouraged him to answer with more than one word (using a complete sentence). When (in the above example) he said “Grandma” in answer to the question, we would repeat it in a complete sentence (as above) and then ask him to repeat the whole sentence. We were not to specifically ask him to correct his pronunciation. If he then said “Eemo sss in a pishre” we simply affirmed it by slowly saying, “Yes, Grandma is in the picture.”

This required our family to slow down for a year or 2. Sometimes we rush here and there and don’t realize the impact it may have on a child who is a slow processor or who has difficulty processing language.

My other recommendation would be to read, read, read! Read for yourself (Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina would be one choice, anything by Chick Moormann and Thomas Haller would be another choice) and read to your child. Read books which require interaction (even board books -naming and pointing to things, answering in complete sentences -“This is the baby’s mouth.” , pull-the-flap books -You can say “What should we do now?” requiring your child to say “Lift the flap”, “Pull the tab”, “turn the wheel” etc.) as well as books which merely require listening. (Dr. Seuss, Little Bear, any stories.)

We read to our children each night before bed and since our child was a 3rd child he began to listen to chapter books at an earlier age than the first 2. We weren’t always sure he was listening (or comprehending) but we do know that he developed strong listening skills as evidenced by learning tests later in his life.

I would recommend that you not look to buy a “curriculum” for your child. Simply live life at a slower pace which allows interaction between you, your child, and the world around you.

Moya Crava On Tuesday, March 6 at 5:23 pm

Wonderful and constructive response.

Rachael On Wednesday, March 7 at 12:25 pm

I too think this is a wonderful response. As a former preschool teacher/early childhood major (now stay at home mom) the methods that Ann mentioned are wonderful. Not correcting your child makes it where they don’t feel they are doing something wrong, but by repeating the correct phrase you are not only allowing them to hear the correct verbage you are teaching them the valuable skill of back and forth conversation and good listening skills.
I definitely agree with READ, READ, READ!! This allows them to hear so many words in so many contexts. Not just at bedtime, but here and there through out the day. When you can have your child sit on your lap. At this age it reinforces the connection and helps them focus. Sometimes you will be reading while they are doing other things. They are still getting a benefit from this, just try and make sure you have a least one lap/cuddle read a day where they have slowed down and are really paying attention. I see the benefits and differences of this in my own children. My oldest has always been into books. We have pictures of him adamantly staring at and listening to books at 4 mos. old. We read to him a couple times a day every day. He talked very early. 2 word “sentences” by 14mos. His younger brother (21 months) has just gotten into reading in the last 2-3 months. He won’t always sit through a book, and has been much slower to talk. His vocabulary is where his brother’s was 6-8 months earlier. But as he becomes more interested in books, I see his language quickly increasing.
Another great thing is sign language. Studies have shown that babies that learn simple signs can benefit in how they pick up spoken language. Say the word when you do the simple sign with your child. This also help with frustration level. They can communicate with you and are often very proud when they sign to you and speak and you understand them..
Something else that I would recommend is really talking to them throughout the day as the two of you go through your activities. “I need to do some laundry right now. Will you be my helper? Let’s put the blue pants in the washer. Now let’s put the green shirt in.” or
“let’s build with blocks together. Tell me about what you are building.” “You are building a … How many blocks did you use? Let’s count the blocks.”

2

mapsmommy On Monday, March 5 at 6:07 am

I know this sounds kind of strange since you want her to talk more, but try incorporating infant sign language into your day along with the words you speak! A simple vocabulary of 20 or so signs used consistently WITH spoken words sometimes gives kids the confidence to take off with speaking. I was surprised to read that when I looked into using sign language with my littles.

I’m really not a big fan of TV for toddlers, but will she talk to the TV? You know those preschool shows like Blues Clues that they ask the kids questions they are supposed to answer? If there’s one verbal response show she really likes you could let her watch it say three or four times a week but then PLAY pretend of the show to get her to talk more through the day. “Oh, I need to find something in the kitchen to help me stir the soup! Help me play Blues Clues to find it!”

Also, check with your pediatrician to see if a formal speech and hearing evaluation is necessary. In many states this would be free under early intervention laws and any speech therapy she qualified for would also be free.

Abbe On Monday, March 5 at 1:58 pm

For anyone interested in sign language with young babies, one of the most important things it does for language development is it helps create an understanding of symbolism – that something, in this case a hand gesture, can be used to represent something else, i.e. an object or person. This is a very important developmental step when learning language, because words are exactly that – verbalized symbols to refer to something else. Using sign language can actually help children reach this basic understanding of symbolism at a much younger age than children who are only spoken to, because they have not yet mastered the physical aspects of making purposeful sound but are able to make gestures, and this can actually accelerate their verbal learning process.

Heather On Monday, March 5 at 2:29 pm

I was also going to suggest sign language as a communication assist. I taught both of my girls sign language starting at 9 month. By 15 months, my eldest knew 100 signs and most of the words to go with them. By age 2, she had so many signs I lost track, and we started to sign less and speak more. It’s a huge help especially in that stage where they CAN speak, and try but you simply can’t understand them. My whole family (sister, parents) thought I was nuts, and thought it would their delay speech, but it doesn’t. I read a ton about the subject before starting (8 years ago now). There weren’t nearly the resources available, but after looking for a program, I found one I loved. It’s called Signing Time! They teach American Sign Language, which I preferred (to other signing programs that teach made up/similar signs). They have a huge array of products available…and their music is outstanding. My kids still sing and sign the rainbow and pizza songs (now 7 and 5)…and they love for me to sign the alphabet song fast…yes I learned quite a bit too. http://www.signingtime.com

My first suggestion is make sure you’re talking to HER … narrate her day for her, talk about what you’re doing, hold one sided conversations. Children learn to speak best in language-rich environments.

Aside from that, however, if you are really concerned about her language development, I would look into getting her evaluated by your local Early Intervention provider. The evaluation is free, and if she has a delay, EI can provide speech therapy at no or minimal cost that can help close the gap.

Abbe On Monday, March 5 at 2:02 pm

I agree with you except on one point – don’t narrate FOR the child, narrate WITH the child. Telling her what is going on will help, but not as much as engaging her in the conversation. Even if she cannot answer the questions or prompts, she will learn, and can respond with emotion which can then be validated with more words.

Kathleen On Tuesday, March 6 at 4:36 am

Great comment, Abbe. I’m feel I can use this technique more with my own little girl. Thank you.

4

Tracy On Monday, March 5 at 6:22 am

My oldest child, a son who is nearly 23 yo, was found to have a mod-severe expressive language delay at the age of two. He made sounds for things (sipping sounds for juice, motor sounds for planes/cars, but didn’t say words). His pediatrician had him evaluated at our local children’s hospital in central VA and he began speech therapy. He also had an articulation problem (S, Th, R sounds) which also resolved over the years of speech therapy at Children’s Hosp and in the public school speech therapy sessions he attended through out his elementary years. He has no lingering speech problems at all so early intervention is critical and absolutely worked for us.
At home, we read (a lot!) to him daily. We practiced letter sounds…made letters/practiced sounds in sand, with play-doh, used pictures (touched the picture of a snake and make S sound). He had a Disney toy that he would press pictures and letters then words/letters were spoken…simple compared to the toys/computers available today, but he loved using his “Mickey Box.”
The family was very good at anticipating his needs without his having to make much effort, so his speech therapist recommended part-time preschool so that he would have to exert some effort to communicate with other children and the teachers. That was helpful too.
Good luck. My best advice would be to start with your pediatrician to see if there’s a problem and if so, seek early intervention services. Otherwise, read to your child regularly, converse and allow plenty of ‘listening’ time on your part so she has the opportunity to talk/reply without interruption.

Rebecca On Monday, March 5 at 6:53 pm

I have a 3 year old that was given a very similar diagnosis. He had no expressive language at 18 months and our pediatrician sent us to a speech therapist for an evaluation. He has since been diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech . We are now doing all the things you mention here and he is in part time preschool and receiving clinical therapy. I really do not think he could have made the progress he already has without early intervention. It is great to hear success story. Thank you for sharing!

Emily B. On Monday, March 5 at 8:59 pm

I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist and also recommend this book frequently to parents of little ones. It is a wonderful resource written FOR parents! It is easy to understand with no professional jargon and provides ideas of how to incorporate/address language throughout your day.

I have to wonder if maybe it’s just not time for your little one to talk. Sometimes it takes a while for kids to decide to talk and it doesn’t indicate a learning disorder, it’s simply a late talker. If you are truly concerned your pediatrician can help or even try the nearest children’s hospital. They have wonderful speech pathologists on staff. Simply reading and speaking correctly to your child is one of the best ways to teach them the language.

I tend to take the “give them time, they’ll come around” route so take my advice for what it’s worth!

Sara On Monday, March 5 at 5:50 pm

I agree…it can be as simply as that, maybe just not ready. My son was the same way..almost 3 and he only made mostly sounds for things. It was frustrating, and i remeber feeling a little worried, but he was fine. One day ( albeit a day when i was frustrated with his lack of communication….) he just began to talk and in full sentences.

As a parent of 2 autistic children – on on either end of the spectrum – the easiest way to get a child to talk is to listen and then respond. Keep it simple, don’t be pushy.

Child is playing with a toy – 1. lean down to eye level “is so and so doing??” 2. Wait 3. Any response will do whether you are looked at, or spoken to. 4. Take the child’s lead. If it’s obvious you aren’t welcome walk away. If you are play some more but DO NOT TAKE OVER.

Also, the child needs to learn the words for all objects to talk. While cooking, or getting dressed etc make certain you label the objects. Do not do a running commentary or the child has no place or time to talk. Reading books – like level readers (level 1) – have very few words in them and simple pictures.

The trick is to get joint attention. Took me 8.5yrs to stop being an object for my youngest who is severely autistic – he’s 10 now. Since it won’t take you that long…. Most of the problem is that they aren’t given enough time to “talk” or maybe they haven’t learned the words for those things they wish to say. Backing up, giving the child space to come to you instead of anticipating every need, will help a lot.

Just finished Pamela Druckermann’s Bringing up bebe and it appears I am bringing up my kids “French” but she makes some excellent points about giving your children space with rules and letting them grow at their own pace.

As a teacher of preschoolers with special needs, the first thing I would do is have her repeat requests. She says “uh,” and you know she wants a drink, you say “Drink please Mama” (or whatever length sentence she’s capable of using) and wait for her to repeat the words. We anticipate the needs of our kids so much we often don’t leave them any reason to talk.

Another suggestion would be to take photos of lots of items in her day and let her choose her activity/request by pointing to the picture. Pair the photo with your words and like the above, wait for her to repeat your words. Buying materials isn’t as relevant to her day as photos you can take.

You can make a little book of photos of her doing favorite things. Read and reread the simple words you put with the photos. When she sees herself she’ll have more motivation to look at it, and to memorize the phrases.

All these things will expand to new situations. But, be patient. If her doctor doesn’t think there is a problem needing speech therapy, then she may just be developmentally slower than you expect. Most kids get there, but all on their own schedule.

We had the SAME situation with our daughter! She was nearly 2 and just not talking. We had taught her some “baby signs”, She could get everything she wanted or needed by pointing and signing, with very little verbalization.
We were very concerned that she was not talking at 17 months, so we had he had her professionally evaluated. Our take away was that she was more advanced in some areas, and that she wasn’t talking because she didn’t have to! All due to the fact that she is an only child and surrounded by a loving family who would do everything for her. (13 years later and its’ the same situation!)
Fast forward to her 2nd birthday and she was talking in sentences. She didn’t have a first word, but she did have a “first sentence” (read me a book).
She did this with walking too… no “toddling” One day we just put her down to stand and she ran away.
It may be a little frustrating, but your baby will come around. If you are concerned about development, though, you might consider having your child evaluated. It did give us some relief to know we were simply spoiling her rather than the idea that she had development issues. Good luck!

Sara On Monday, March 5 at 10:10 pm

My son was the same way. He didn’t crawl til he could speed across the floor, didn’t walk til he could run, and didn’t speak til he could use sentences and paragraphs. I was quite concerned about his lack of speech. When he started preschool at 2, he hardly talked at all. Now, at 3.5, he doesn’t shut up!!! Some kids are just perfectionists and want to wait until they feel confident that they can do something really well before trying it at all.

Also, I know you asked about homeschooling, but one of the biggest things that got him talking was starting preschool. He had to talk to play with the other kids. And it was an all ages preschool so he was interacting with 3, 4, and 5 year olds who were quite verbal. And because the teachers couldn’t anticipate his every need (as I was able to with him as my only child), he had to learn to express himself in a way that they could understand. It may not be for everyone, but it was incredible for him. Now he’s an extremely verbal kid who “reads” (memorizes and recites) us books and will carry on a conversation with sales clerks, zoo volunteers, teachers, friends, etc. All kids develop in their own time

I wouldn’t worry about it too much, at all. Just keep her around chatty, articulate adults as much as possible. It’s been proven that the more a child is exposed to adult conversation….the more overall success they have in life. In fact, it’s been shown to be THE ONLY FACTOR by one study. This is one of the reasons my 7 year old is already up to SAT vocabulary words….we never put him in daycare; all his life has been spent listening to me and my wife – instead of toddlers with 500 word vocabularies.

Melissa A On Tuesday, March 6 at 8:54 am

That’s really great that this worked for you!

But daycare is the only option for some families and with effort at home they can expose their children to adult conversations as well. While your comment seemed neutral, I thought there was an underlying tone that your child is oh-so-smart because you did not put them in daycare. Perhaps this is one factor to your child’s success. But I am sure there are people who use daycare and still manage to produce smart, successful children.

Hi Melissa….in 1950 the average total vocabulary of a 6 year old in America was 4,000 words but by 1990 a 6 year old American’s average vocabulary had DROPPED to ONLY 1,000 words. The culprit is artificially divorcing children from the real, adult-led world.

Melissa A On Wednesday, March 7 at 11:38 am

Thank you for your reply.

I think you certainly make a good case here for exposing children to adult conversation However, I think there are ways to achieve this and still have children in day care if that is what your schedule demands.

It is wonderful your children are so incredibly bright and successful. But other parents are equally capable of providing for their children, but may go about it in a different way.

D On Wednesday, March 14 at 7:40 pm

I don’t think the point is that know one should put their child in daycare, but rather that there are risks to putting a young child in a situation in which on a regular basis they are in an environment where limited vocabulary is used. The study to which CN refers was pointed out to me a few months ago by a school teacher (we were discussing the State of the Union address). Apparently it showed that not only does the language gap persist years later but in many cases it worsens.

When I was deciding to homeschool I read both the pros and cons, and I seriously considered cons such as socialization, exposure to diversity, lack of test taking skills. Using what I learned I created a plan to address these issues– I didn’t turn a blind eye to them. I think CN is making a valid point that a concerned parent using daycare would want to address; namely how do I make sure my child’s vocabulary is adequately developed during this crucial time of life. Obviously there are a number of paths a parent might take to remedy this concern, but you can’t craft a plan if you don’t know a potential problem exists.

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Betsy On Monday, March 5 at 7:04 am

I may get flogged for this, but I would say slow down and just let her be her two year old self. Two year olds are just starting to learn to talk and she will most likely learn to talk in her own time. Talk to her like she’s a person, describe your day to her and what you’re doing, but just in a normal way…not overblown or preachy. And read to her…a lot…and she’ll be just fine!

I agree. She’s learning by listening to everything that goes on around her. Ask open ended questions, but don’t expect her to actually answer the question correctly. You said she doesn’t talk much. She probably will, some kids just take a little longer. My two year old will “answer” if I’m taking to her and I wait for an answer, but her answer doesn’t always make sense to the question. One day it will.

K On Monday, March 5 at 4:44 pm

Also agree! Do not create a problem where there is not one. As long as your pediatrician says she is developing normally do not worry she will be fine.

Agreed.
Also, listen. Sometimes I let my 2 year old “read me a story” or I sit as he babbles, and then I realize he’s saying something important. I think sometimes listening is hard b/c I’m so busy, but sometimes I have to make myself sit down, look into his sweet face, and just listen.
I bet you’re doing a good job though. We tend to be so hard on ourselves or think we should be doing more, but I bet you’re a great mom with a great kiddo.

Kelly B On Thursday, March 8 at 2:24 am

I agree as well.Lots of great info here. My kids are grown and we loved homeschooling, I also ran my own daycare for many years and ran the Church Nursery. Im kind of like a kid magnet, they loved me because I was fun.Your child is two..relax…enjoy this precious time,read as much as you can, getting out and exploring.Your child is like a little sponge soaking up EVERYTHING! Im an old mom but I wish someone had told me to relax more when my kids were little. Once 2 is gone – its gone. Make the most of every day God blesses you with : )

12

la-la-lisa On Monday, March 5 at 7:15 am

There are several things you can do. First, be sure to narrate (as in talk/describe) things as you go throughout the day. Everything is a learning opportunity — grocery store (look at the apples, they’re red, they’re round, etc.), folding laundry (I’m folding your shirt into a square, etc.). Basically, you go around talking to your child like a rambling idiot. I’m not going to lie about that last bit. If you want your child to be verbal, you need to model verbal behavior.

Second, learn some sign language and teach this to your child. Be sure to use the words in conjunction with it though. Don’t be silent. There are a lot of resources out there on the web to teach you some basic terms. I know some people are afraid that if they teach sign language, their kids won’t talk. Let me tell you that my son was speech delayed. The first thing our Speech Therapist told us to do was to teach and use even more sign language.

If at any point you become concerned regarding your child’s language development, do consider getting him or her evaluated by a Speech Therapist. Ordinarily I’d have a ton to say about all this, but we’re just about ready to head out the door. I can find some more resources for you later but I’m sure the community will be full of great ideas.

13

Jaime On Monday, March 5 at 7:23 am

I don’t know about materials and such, but I know what worked in our family. Don’t stop talking to her and with her about everything. Keep up an almost constant stream of chatter. Ask her questions. Take her outside and explore, talking and commenting on all that you see. Use regular, grown-up speech. If you use a word she doesn’t understand, define it, but don’t “dumb it down”. Read to her – often. Ask her questions about what you read, the characters, what she thinks will happen next, why so-and-so did what they did. what color X is in the story, how does so-and-so feel, etc. Let her see you talking to other people. Ask her to verbalize what she needs in some way before you provide it (within reason). Pretty soon you’ll be in the position I’m in with my 6-year-old: trying to get him to stop talking! I wish you the best!

Really, just a question in response — why do you want online resources? If you want to help your baby to talk, the best way is to talk to her all the time. Story books facilitate this easily. Not only can you read the story, you can discuss the pictures, asking her questions and helping her say the answers. It is also an opportunity for her to ask you questions. Even if she doesn’t speak very clearly, you can try hard to understand and continue the conversation with her.

Studies have shown that listening to radio or tv does not help babies learn to talk, it is the direct conversation with adults that helps them. I know from personal experience in learning a foreign language — if someone is talking right to you, you are able to understand and respond far better than understanding an exchange between two individuals not speaking to you.

Another reason to use that kind of direct interaction is that she will be more motivated to learn because she is with her favorite person in the world — YOU!

A couple of things that worked well for us with my oldest 3 were matching games, handmade puppets (paper bag, sock, etc), and mommy-asking-90-million-questions. My boys were more verbal when we played games while my girls have become more verbal through my constantly asking them questions and waiting for them to answer. We play with flashcards I get at the dollar zone at Target that have colors, animals, etc.

I don’t know of any online resources but I’m sure other posters will have a great many. I can’t wait to see what people share.

Sherry On Sunday, March 11 at 12:19 pm

We also used flashcards with our daughter. In addition to just identifying the pictures, we told stories with the flashcards. Our daughter could pick as many cards as she wanted but each card had to be part of her story. We started with just a few cards and then she slowly added more and more. It takes a little practice with you showing them how to tell a “story” but be patient. Our stories often started as just sentences with 2 cards. Example: flashcard of a boy, flashcard of an apple… The boy likes apples. Hopes that makes sense.

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jp On Monday, March 5 at 7:30 am

Make sure that she hears well (hearing test) and then just speak to her a lot – name things for her and talk about what’s going on: Mommy’s running the water for your bath, can you hear how it splashes in the tub, look at the water as it comes out of the tub, this is the washcloth, this is the soap, hm this soap smells like flowers.

Just read read read. And talk talk talk. Narrate what you’re doing as you’re doing it, and absolutely NO baby talk! Two is still pretty little. I wouldn’t be too worried about it. I’m sure you’re doing a wonderful job already!

18

Meg B On Monday, March 5 at 7:54 am

I would say the best thing you can do for her at 2 years old is read, read and read. Read picture books, read those fun books that just name the colorful pictures of things around the house, on a farm, etc. Relax with her and read! I wouldn’t even call it homeschooling, she is only 2, there is plenty of time for formal schooling. Just read with her!

The development of language in toddlers varies greatly from child to child. We have had children at each extreme of the spectrum, from speaking as they emerged from the womb to waiting months and months to vocalize anything except emotions (yes, I’m exaggerating to make a point :). The goal during this stage is to provide a word-rich environment for them to listen to, knowing that they are learning vast amounts of information, and that they will progress from non-verbal to verbal at their own rate. Reading wonderful books to them from the beginning is critical. Choose books with lots of variety in words and pictures to stimulate their curiosity and language development. Talk to them while you are doing chores or driving or out for a walk, describing everything in detail. Sing to them often, even if you don’t have a great voice. They won’t care. They are soaking up so much, and before you know it they will be speaking in complete paragraphs. PLEASE DO NOT PARK THEM IN FRONT OF A VIDEO! The interactive nature of responding to their parents is SO much more conducive to their development, it cannot be overstated.

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Jessica M On Monday, March 5 at 7:57 am

My daughter is three and currently seeing a speech therapist. One of the easiest things they told me that I didn’t realize, I didn’t do often enough, was to look directly into your childs eyes when you play and talk. They actually have to see your mouth moving. I know it sounds easy but think about it, I play with my kids all day, games, dolls, books, parks, you name it, but I look down when I read, when we are playing games I talk quickly, sometimes we sing while im housekeeping, and when we are at the park we are running around playing. But, very little of that time do they see my lips moving. Spending a little time every day sitting and talking eye to eye while exagerating your mouth movements on the sounds you make, may make a huge difference. And of course, be that crazy mom that keeps a running dialogue with your kids all day, at the store, in the car, everywhere! Good Luck!

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Kathleen K On Monday, March 5 at 7:59 am

At two you don’t need anything formal. Involve your daughter in whatever you are doing, and talk about it as you do. Don’t use “baby” words, but speak normally. Read to her–baby books, picture story books, whatever, pointing to words as you read them. Yes, you can teach a precocious 2 year old the alphabet, colors, and numbers, but you don’t need to. Enjoy the baby/toddler days, they will pass all too soon.

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Jessica On Monday, March 5 at 8:04 am

Dora seems to get a lot of kids talking, if you’re comfortable with TV- the repetitive words combined with the consistent visual triggers seem to work well. You might also invest in some music with simple, clear, repetitive lyrics. The Doodlebops come to mind, and the classics are also perfect. I see an iPhone/iPad app called “Toddler Jukebox” that might fit the bill. I haven’t downloaded it, but it has stuff like Wheels on the Bus, Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, and Old MacDonald.

If it doesn’t feel unnatural to you, you could also try toning down your own speech to something she can understand and mimic, at least for activity transitions. I find that sing-song, repetitive phrases tend to stick with kids. So, if you say “O-KAY, let’s eat our good breakfast!” or “It’s time to brush, brush, brush our teeth” every day, she’ll probably start remembering and repeating. If you bury the key words in a long paragraph, she’s working hard enough just to get the gist. And of course, gentle positive reinforcement (clapping, smiling, etc) goes a long way- you want to imply that you’re happy when she speaks and sings, but you’re not desperately invested one way or another.

Overall, don’t worry. It’s overwhelmingly likely that she’ll catch up. It seems like a lot of parents get crazy, and turn a non-problem into an actual problem by pushing too hard. As you probably know, kids at that age learn mostly from hearing other people talk and from playing, rather than from formal curriculum.

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Shannon On Monday, March 5 at 8:05 am

Hi Melissa!!

Now, I’m not a doctor at all. But, I do have a B.A. in Child Development and an M.A. in Education.

Since you asked, my first recommendation is to ask your pediatrician. She/he will know if your treasure is “delayed”. Keep in mind that if she has an older sibling(s), it will take her longer to become verbal than an oldest/only child.

If there are no speech issues, the best thing to do is let her develop at her own pace. As frustrating as that is, it’s really the best way. If she feels any pressure whatsoever, she will most likely take longer to become verbal.

That being said, it’s always fun to read together, and that’s a great way to build vocabulary. Finding books (online or otherwise) that simply name a familiar object or animal is fun for her and carries no pressure. Repetition is great too, so get ready to read that book three million times a day!

Good luck, and try not to stress out. Remember, she is brilliant and she is going to be just fine!

Hello Melissa!
Not everyone is talkative, but I appreciate the desire to *know* what’s going on in their little heads. I have four children, ages 21, 17, 13, and 7. I have talkers, and not-so-much talkers, but I have learned that they are all communicators. I found that I could join their conversation by really participating-observing their play; whatever activity really engaged their attention seems to be the place where they are actually *saying a lot* about what they think, believe, feel. In fact, I just learned something when I had the chance to read a college application of my son’s, and though it was an idea I was vaguely aware of, it really shocked me to realize the depth of it: he wrote that his art was his communication, that all his life he was talking and thinking through his drawing. He states it so explicitly, and when I reflect on his life, I see how true it is. He never has said much, but he is always drawing, and most of his art has been engineering designs, plans, concepts, inventions. Now he is designing and inventing. If words are few and far between, I suggest you bring out things to manipulate, like play dough, a tea set, paper and pencils, paints, LEGO… don’t try to direct or intervene with the play, but listen, and watch. I hope you discover her language, which will help you share in her thoughts.

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Debbie J. On Monday, March 5 at 8:09 am

I always talked to/with my kids. All the time. Also when shopping and doing my chores, I would talk about what I was doing. Like when shopping for fruit, I’d say “mommy’s buying apples”. I would hold the apple in front of my kid and say “apple”. This really worked well with my older two.

My youngest wasn’t very verbal. Although I’d do the same thing with him that I did with the others, he didn’t respond as well. I would tell him stories and make him the main character, and read to him if he’d sit still long enough to listen. When something happened I would ask him questions about it and try to get him to say what he wanted me to know rather than act it out which is what he often did. He eventually started verbalizing with a lot of coaching and time spent.

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Oregonian On Monday, March 5 at 8:11 am

I can’t direct you to any homeschooling resources for toddlers but I have a couple of suggestions you may or may not have tried. Encourage her to sing along with childrens CD’s. When reading a favorite book that you know she has practically memorized, stop at a key word and look to her to say it. Or skip key words and see if she will correct you. Start ignoring some of her non-verbal ways of communicating and let a little frustration grow as you tell her she will have to use a word. Choose times she is asking for something unimportant that you are OK with refusing unless she verbalizes.

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Maureen Dreibelbis On Monday, March 5 at 8:17 am

Read picture books to him/her and ask her where things are in the book. “Where is the dog? What color is the moon? Who is swimming?” At two you will probably get one word answers. It is something to build on, so be patient.

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Anne DeRuiter On Monday, March 5 at 8:23 am

Cheryl On Monday, March 5 at 8:34 am

I don’t have a lot of online resources but both my sons were not early talkers I found the Signing Times! DVDs at the library were very, VERY helpful. It was easier to learn if you watched them in order & we never really got past DVD 9 or 10 but it really helped my kids communicate what they wanted & it helped me understand what they were trying to say so I could ‘correct’ their speech. By the time both were 3 they were very vocal (there was a huge leap between 2.5 yrs & their 3 year appt)
A show on PBS is Word world & that also helped. My youngest does go to a speech therapist now & she has lots of cool expensive sound card she uses (a picture on a card) She recommended going to a dollar store to look for simple flash cards or use a cheap picture dictionary or kids picture encyclopedia to cut pictures from & use those as flash cards. We also model the proper speech & not over correct (ie he calls books bookies so we just say which book do you want & not point out where he is wrong)
Also the therapist recommended we NOT watch Elmo because of Elmo’s baby talk

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kellymarie On Monday, March 5 at 8:39 am

Melissa R,
This is what I can share with you, all of my kids received Early Intervention for speech, as early as 16 months for my son and as late as 2 1/2 yrs old for my youngest daughter.. I would seriously consider this option, this is not to scare you..Language delay could be a indication to a problem down the road.. Even though all three kids received speech, my youngest excels and does wonderful and only required it for 2 yrs, my other two kids 17 and 7 still receive services for speech.. The earlier the better outcome… Please consider..
I know you were looking for a program, I would look for something that a speech pathologist would use..(do a search n look up programs, if your not considering early intervention assessment), Please know I only say this out of love, not to scare you..

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Kim Landrum On Monday, March 5 at 8:39 am

1. Have your toddler’s hearing checked. A history of ear infections or fluid in the ears may interfere with hearing. Hearing and speech go hand in hand.

2. SIng. Children tend to enjoy singing fun songs along with an activity. “Ring around the Rosie”, “London Bridge”, “Itsy Bitsy Spider”, “B-I-N-G-O”, you know.

3. Don’t anticipate her needs before she can verbalize them. She may feel there is no need for her to speak up, since everything is there and ready for her without her speaking.

4. Offer choices without displaying the options. Does she want to wear red shoes or blue shoes? Does she want an orange or an apple? Which book would she like to read?

5. Be patient. My daughter didn’t speak much when she was a toddler. Once she decided that she had something to say, there was no stopping her.

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Mandy On Monday, March 5 at 8:50 am

I have a little one with a speech delay (1 year behind) who attends speech therapy once a week. What the therapists and I both do with him is play games or trains or whatever he wants to do, but make him ask for parts. If we’re setting up the train set, we make him ask for a piece of track each time he wants to add to it. We make him use descriptive words to ask for which train he wants. It can get a little overwhelming and stressful for them if you’re asking for complete sentences, so just asking for one or two word phrases can be where you start. It really depends on your little one and her abilities right now. If she wants juice, don’t give it to her until she says “juice, please” or if she’s not using those words yet, then wait until she says something. Anything. Then slowly work her into the right starting sounds. Read to her as much as you can! The constant exposure to vocabulary will help eventually. It will be a slow process, but she’ll get there! I highly recommend seeking the help of a speech therapist if you think she may need it. Talk to her Dr. He should be able to refer you to an early intervention program or a local university that has students that need experience. (We go to the local university because I didn’t want to go through the public school system!) Good luck!

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Laura On Monday, March 5 at 8:53 am

Old adage: “You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to talk. You spend the next 18 telling them to be quiet.” Neither of my kids talked until they were 2 1/2 and neither talked plainly until they were 4 going on 5. My daughter is 30 and my son is 15 and neither have trouble verbalizing now! My son first’s understandable words came in the form of a complete sentence. Relax and enjoy the peace and quiet!

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Rachel C On Monday, March 5 at 8:57 am

I think the best thing is just to talk to your child. Don’t bore the child to sleep, but when she seems alert and receptive just constantly talk about what you are doing, seeing, feeling, etc. Also, require her to make some sort of sound to get what she wants. Make it fun and positive, and reward all of her attempts.
I’ll be interested to see if anyone responds with any online ideas. I know that the internet can be a great resource, but for most normally developing children I don’t think a computer could do better than a parent.

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Nicky On Monday, March 5 at 9:03 am

I have two boys, currently 4.5 and 2.5 years old. My oldest didn’t talk much until he was 18 months old (though he did sign quite a bit). He was too focused on developing his physical skills, climbing and running, etc. My younger son just recently began to talk more. He is also very active and has an older brother who now doesn’t stop talking, so I believe that’s why he was a bit slower to express himself. Now, my younger son talks nonstop if given the chance. They’re both quite bright, they were just later to speak.

My moral is, don’t worry too much if your daughter doesn’t talk much at two years old. I think two is much too young to begin any sort of formal homeschooling. Do you speak to her often? (One study recommended 17,000 words per day, which I think would make me lose my voice!) Does she understand and communicate with you somehow? Is she unusually active? If so, she’s probably just a little late to talk. She will definitely catch up! If you are seriously worried about a speech defect, hearing problem, or social syndrome, you should speak to her doctor and get professional help. Good luck with your little girl!

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Penny On Monday, March 5 at 9:05 am

I had a toddler who didn’t speak very much at all, but I was warned by other moms who knew better that when he did start to speak he wouldn’t ever be quiet again! They were right! So if it’s just a matter of your child taking their time; don’t worry! I would get her checked by a speech pathologist just to make sure that nothing is wrong; your pediatrician can refer you to one.
What to do after that? For a child of two, the very best thing that you can do is read books to her. You don’t need a fancy curriculum. You don’t need anything that makes the room look like a classroom. You don’t need special gadgets and gizmos. That will all come in time. Right now she needs you. She needs to hear your voice. She needs the comfort of being snuggled up next to you. Read to her. Read a variety of books, don’t stick with just one genre. Make the characters come alive. Don’t be afraid to make silly noises (books with animals and vehicles are good for this); encourage her to make silly noises with you. Those noises are the building blocks for language development. Ask her questions about the pictures in the books you are reading. Read often.
When you aren’t reading together, talk to her about what you are doing. Ask her questions about what she is doing. Gently encourage her to open up verbally.
Reading and talking may seem rather basic, but remember, she is two. Don’t rush through these formative years. Let her have a fun childhood filled with lots of exploration through books and when it is time to start a more structured education, she will be ready for it! I wish you the very best; you are starting on a journey that will bring you far more joy than you ever could imagine!

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Megan B On Monday, March 5 at 9:15 am

I would the best thing for your 2 year old would be to read, read and read some more! Read fun picture books over and over again. There will be plenty of time to do formal schooling so for now just read lots of great books!

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Alison On Monday, March 5 at 9:22 am

My mom is a speech pathologist, and sent me a book by the American Speech Language Hearing Association called “Beyond Baby Talk.” and another (they came as a set) called “talking on the go.”. I’ve had great luck encouraging language with them.

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Cary S. On Monday, March 5 at 9:22 am

My first thought would be to tell you to relax and next would be to pray. Speech and verbalization is a process and it is usually slower than some parents think. If you have ruled out anything medical, chronic ear infections sometimes delays speech, then your child may just be going at his/her own pace. I’ve known many close friends (and myself) who have had a child not be very verbal at the age of two and by three and four, they are shushing them! My first child was extremely verbal, second not so much until he got tubes in his ears – that opened up all the sounds he was missing, third child simply did not talk. We found that he had great receptive language, meaning he understood everything coming at him, just couldn’t verbalize. He did go to speech therapy and a special preschool – I would not do that again, in hindsight – nothing wrong with the preschool, just that I really wanted him at home. Well, that child is now 17 and has a 4.0. Basically, I’m saying just be patient, read to your child a lot and simply converse with him/her, don’t fret, pray.
I’ll pray for you, too.

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Lisa D. On Monday, March 5 at 9:23 am

I can’t help with onine resources, but just with life experience.

With a 2 year old, as long as she is in a normal range of speech development, I wouldn’t worry. Talk with her. Patiently listen when she does talk. Do things that encourage her to use large motor skills, fine motor skills, and her senses (go outside, cook, touch animals, run, dance, draw, paint, anything!). In most cases, language will come.

I would also encourage you to limit her access to technology (TV, computer, apps). Please note that I did not say ELIMINATE access. Technology is not evil, but should be used in age appropriate moderation. In general, kids who can entertain themsleves without technology express themselves more creatively than those kids that are dependent on technology.

That isn’t really asking your question as written, but I hope it is encouraging anyway!

It seems a little counter intuitive but what really worked for us with my oldest son was the Signing Time videos. I got the set because he wasn’t talking at all by 18 months and within the year he was talking up a storm. As a side bonus, it really helped with reading too.

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Brenda On Monday, March 5 at 9:28 am

Some children are early talkers, some are not. Just the same as every other skill. By the time they are 4 or so, you will wonder what you were ever concerned about, especially on those days where, frankly, your ears will be tired! But, the simplest advice I can give you is to read, read, read….doesn’t matter what it is, as long as she enjoys it. Most seem to do well with rhyming and repetition. Avoid the pitfall of anticipating her needs….a lot of younger children don’t verbalize as it is not needed for them; Mom and Dad understand everything without words. And listen….actively listen, with eye contact, when she does speak. It makes her realize that what she says is important to you. Defacto, it becomes important to her! At two, it is as much about love, attention and overall child rearing… not so much ‘homeschooling’.

These days ya can find all sorts of great interactive lessons ’round every corner. It’s a new world baby!!! Heeeheehehhe!!! :o)

From the happy hills and hollers of the Missouri Ponderosa, God bless ya’ll and have a bright and beautiful day!!!

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Bonnie On Monday, March 5 at 9:32 am

Read to her regularly and often! Also, at the library, you can get books on tape/cd that come with the book so you can follow along. This is a great way to introduce other voices, inflections, ideas, etc… and give your voice a break if you’ve been reading a lot. My, now older kids, loved and still love books on tape/cd. This has helped them in so many areas, to include grammar, pronunciation, story-telling, setting, etc…

And just talking to her, normally, (ie not baby-talk) is important.

Probably some day soon, you will wonder why you were concerned! : )

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jillmc On Monday, March 5 at 9:33 am

We purchased a video online called Baby Babble-2………worked WONDERS! Its made by 2 pediatric speech therapists. Anxious to read other’s replies!

Gwendolyn On Tuesday, April 24 at 9:33 am

I have all three Baby Babble videos and my 2.5 yr old son loves them. He has Apraxia of Speech and he’s learned all of the signs they teach and has picked up many words. He’s just learning to speak without being asked to say something, which is a huge accomplishment.

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Cindy Auler On Monday, March 5 at 9:37 am

I am a grandmother, not a professional, but in my experience, the more a child can be with other young children-the more they develop their social skills. It may be that your child already goes to day-care or play-dates. If so, then my comment is not useful to you. Spending time with adults isn’t the same! Good luck!

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Jennifer Booth On Monday, March 5 at 9:42 am

I started teaching my daughter at 18 months who didn’t have a big vocabulary to recognize the letters by writing an uppercase letter on one of her hands and telling her what it was then throughout the day asking her what it was. Within 2 weeks she got the concept and I began putting a different letter on each hand. She was able to recognize all the letters before she was 2. After she knew all the uppercase letters I started putting the uppercase letter on one hand and the lowercase on the other (A a). After she learned those I began writing the words from the kindergarten word list on her hands (available online). She was having fun while learning. At 2 years she knew how to recognize all the uppercase and lowercase letters, nubers 0-10, shapes, colors and several words.

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Nicole Merrill On Monday, March 5 at 9:43 am

Our son was talking very little at 2. By 2.5 he was talking up a storm! I think it was just a matter of time and purposefully talking right to him ALOT. I repeat myself frequently, saying things a multiple of ways. I also repeat much of what he says in complete sentences. It lets him hear how to pronounce words better and also lets him know I am really listening. Singing simple songs over and over, reading rhythmic books and letting him fill in certain words all helped as well.

We also had him evaluated by our county. Through that he got some assistance from a speech therapist. Mostly the therapist was just a cheerleader for our efforts at home but it was nice to hear that we were doing all the right things. In Ohio, where we live, you can be evaluated by state services up until 3. At 3 you are moved to the school system and it can be much harder to qualify for assistance.

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Sally On Monday, March 5 at 9:43 am

Homeschooling a two year old? I hope not in a formal way-I hope it’s fun learning as you go through the day;). I would talk to her and let her talk back (if you are talking too much it might inhibit the child responding by not giving her time to formulate an answer for instance). I have a son with a processing delay, he has told me I talk too fast and don’t give him enough time to think of what he wants to say.
I would read to her, particularly picture books, and take turns labeling things in the pictures (Dorling Kindersleys picture books are wonderful for this, with subjects like ‘Farm Animals” etc. Also rebus books (where some words are replaced by pictures and the child can say what is in the picture while you read). Label common objects with taped on signs (chair, book, etc.) so she sees as well as hears language. Talk about what you are doing, where you are going, what you are using, etc. so she hears language a lot. If you suspect a hearing or speech problem, get her screened right away, it’s far better to know it early and work on fixing an issue than waiting till the child falls behind peers. It can be hard to tell in young children.

Hi, my daughter is almost three now (at 8. march) and since I remember it was a lot of music, songs arround her. Almost all first three month I was singing to her instead of talking. Not 24 hours, but a lot! And from the begginnig we did not used the kid’s language: we named everything with it’s real names, no the way the kids talking: dog was a dog, not a doggy or doggichy:) And reading a books: oh, trust me, so much books I did not readed in my all life!!! Almost every free moment we spended with a book – not necessarily for kids only. Now she has absolutely no problem with talking and her first full sentence we’ve heard when she was 19-20 month old. So, maybe it will be useful for you:)

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Kim G. On Monday, March 5 at 9:46 am

I am currently going to school for speech-language pathology. I was just introduced to a website geared toward SLPs, parents, teachers, etc. http://www.speakingofspeech.com. There are a ton of resources and activities listed there. Just keep in mind that all children develop differently. If you haven’t already, you may want to have a discussion with your pediatrician and rule out any medical issues, such as a mild hearing loss. Even things like frequent ear infections can really stunt a child’s speech.

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Lauren On Monday, March 5 at 9:47 am

I don’t know about materials per se ….. you could buy some fun kids music that goes along with learning letters, like zoophonics. The important thing at this age (especially if this is a only child) is just to talk and sing as much as possible. Point out signs, talk about what you are doing. Have fun communicating, and your child will pick up on it.

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Elisa F. On Monday, March 5 at 9:47 am

Hi Melissa!
Both of my kids were non-talkers as toddlers. My son flat-out didn’t speak (he invented his own sign language instead) until he was about two and a half. We had him evaluated at the University, but they reassured us that he’d be fine. My daughter didn’t waste any words either, but had a few words by the time she was two, and would ask for things but didn’t verbalize any observations. I was a lot more relaxed that time around, so no trip to the University for observation.
Good grief – by the time these two did start to really talk, around 2 1/2 for both of them, it just didn’t stop! I mean it really was something. My daughter is now almost 9, and she loves nothing more than a two-hour chitty chat on the phone with her grandmother, she reads aloud to the dog, she talks out-loud for all the characters when she plays with her playmobil toys, I get a running stream-of-consciousnesses during car rides. My son was the same way, although adolescence has slowed him down a bit.
I have every confidence that your sweet one will be just fine, and you might even giggle to yourself someday that you were concerned. My only suggestion other than continue to talk a lot yourself, is to eliminate all exposure to any kind of screen-time. It sounds severe, but that was the only recommendation the speech pathologists at the university had for us, and we followed their advice.
Best of luck.

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Ines On Monday, March 5 at 9:52 am

There are wonderful online resources & apps for tablets…however, that may make your child more quiet. For a 2y.o. …they need play, play, play. Are there mommy groups you can join? if not, create them…have a playdough day, sensory tub create day….children often model language from each other…so some older children will help too Give her purpose to speech…real life experieces. As parents, we tend to compare (it’s human) to other children but each is his own. And teaching is in the play…not to many 2 y.o are going to sit through lessons as their attention spans are growing. Please be careful about the “push” because regression can be a result. Good luck!

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Lorraine On Monday, March 5 at 9:53 am

I am so happy to hear that you are encouraging your toddler to speak. I sense that you think he ( or she) is not speaking as much as other children of the same age. My granddaughter has childhood apraxia of speech. CAS. This is a condition we never knew existed. My daughter knew her daughter’s speech development was different early on. No babbling, very quiet, shyt. But clearly she could hear and understand everything! Her pediatrician kept saying she would catch up ( she was 6 weeks premature). Be persistent! Don’t let someone brush your concerns off. Early intervention in the form of speech therapy is critical. Research CAS on the web. If you think this may be your child, act on your own intuition. Mothers know best! After a year of speech therapy, now 31/2 years old, Cami is now beginning to use words. Slow, but sure progress, but it would not have happened without early intervention. Good luck!

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Lynn Laura On Monday, March 5 at 9:55 am

Read to her.. My grand-daughter is 2-1/2 and talks really nice. My daughter reads to her every naptime and bedtime. She loves to go to the library and get books.

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Pam the Goatherd On Monday, March 5 at 10:00 am

First I have a few questions about the concept of how much verbalization is the “right” amount for a two year old. Is she verbalizing when she needs or wants things? Or does she just point or otherwise use physical methods for expressing herself? Or does she not express herself at all? When asked questions does she answer?
Is she an only child? Or does she have older siblings who provide everything she needs before she even thinks that she might need it?
Some people are just quieter than others. If she is not verbalizing needs and wants and/or she is only using physical methods for expressing her needs or she is not responding to questions or otherwise expressing herself at all then she should be tested for autism or hearing problems.
If she doesn’t have any physical or psychological problems that are causing her to not verbalize as much as you think she should it could just be that she’s not a gregarious person. Or she might just be saving it all up for when she turns three and begins to ask “why?” about everything on the planet that she encounters!
Things to try that might encourage her to verbalize more would include reading a favorite picture book together and asking her what is happening in the pictures on the pages. There are interactive children’s video programs that ask the children to answer questions aloud. Shows like Sesame Street or Mr Rogers ask children to interact with what is going on (i.e. – One of these things is different from the others).
If she is not verbalizing requests you should explain to her that you cannot possibly know what it is she wants until she says it out loud to you. Then gently remind her each time that you will not give her what she wants until she says it out loud. Praise her when she does tell you want she wants. Make sure that if she has expressed a “need” you get it for her as part of the reward. “Wants” on the other hand, need not be given in to as part of the reward. But always praise her for verbally expressing herself in a positive manner.

The biggest, best resource you have is YOU. Talk to her about what you are doing, point out things in the books you read aloud, ask her to find the..(dog, ball, etc)….in the picture, encourage her to ask for things by name by naming the things you give her.

Does she hear? Is she responsive to your words? Does she use any sounds to get your attention?

There’s lots out there on ‘normal language development’ but mostly it is interacting with the child consistently. Pay attention to her and use YOUR words, so she has feedback. The two-year-olds I know are all over the map on verbal skills and they change rapidly.

If you have an iPad or similar, the talking Tom app was recommended by our speech therapist for my two yr old. The cat only talks if she talks, so it encourages them to vocalize. It’s pretty funny, too! Check out your local community for early intervention programs to help with speech therapy, also. Or go to your local elementary school and ask for help. It’s out there and a lot of it is free or low cost! Our 2.5 yr od was slow to pick up words but he’s doing better now that we got some help! Good luck!

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Tonya Beaston On Monday, March 5 at 10:07 am

I know a trick to get toddlers to talk more that will work without fail. Say something inappropriate in front of them, then take them out in public. Works every time. LOL

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Tina C On Monday, March 5 at 10:12 am

My son was the same way. We had tried everything to encourage talking, so we spoke to our pediatrician, and he told us if we were concerned the state offered a program, a free program, through Health and Welfare. The Infant Toddler program. It is federally funded and available in all states. We got set up with a speech therapist , who came to our home and worked with us and our son for one hour a week. It was great. She helped him to open up and words have started flowing. I don’t know where we would have been without her. This program is free, that’s right, FREE! It is part of the no child left behind campaign. Call your pediatrician to get a phone number or check the government pages in the phone book. It really was worth it. I hope this helps!

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DCourtney On Monday, March 5 at 10:13 am

I’ve learned that each child begins to talk at their own pace. My own son did not talk until he was just about in preschool for some reason and then took off talking nonstop. What works really good if you can find them are books on tape or reading out loud to them, songs, just something that is repetitive. Also, getting them around other kids their age will help, too.

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Janet W On Monday, March 5 at 10:16 am

I recommend patience! As a mother of ten, ages 3 to 21, I have seen a lot! Our oldest (boy) said “hot” and “mom” at 8 months, then didn’t talk until past age 2. Then next one(girl) spoke in sentences at 18 months. Number 10 (boy) has taken the longest of all our children to really verbalize. He was closer to 3 when he really started putting normal sentences together. But all of them have shown a high level of intelligence. Don’t panic, don’t prod, and don’t compare!

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Randi On Monday, March 5 at 10:17 am

Hi

I am a mother of 2. An 8 year old girl and a 3 year old boy. My daughter was a typical girl, she talked early, and has yet to learn to internalize any of her thoughts
My son, however was a far different story. As a baby we noticed that he was far quieter. We new that boys develop differently, and with a 5 year gap between kids, we knew that our milestone measurements weren’t the most accurate.
He continued to be non-verbal past the traditional milestones of 1 year, and 18 months. At age 2 we requested a speech evaluation by our local early start resource program. They did a complete evaluation in tandem with our pediatrician and came to the conclusion that he was high functioning autistic with a sever speech delay.
He has spent the last 7 months in weekly speech therapy and he is progressing wonderfully. We have partnered with his speech therapist to continue his learning at home.
One of the biggest things we’ve learned is to make verbal speech required. We no longer acknowledge a whine or cry for attention, or as a request for something. We also learned to make more opportunities for making speech necessary. We give him single items for snack, and then require that he ask for “more” and he must verbalize it. As he has progressed more, it becomes more fun, and he learns that verbal requests get a faster response, and usually the response that he’s looking for.
I say all this, not to terrify you, but to make you aware, that speech delays can be a big challenge, and having a little professional help makes the process much easier. Even if it is just a starting point, it can give you the tools to continue on your own. But please talk to your pediatrician and make sure your child is meeting those speech milestones, and that there is no cause for concern.
Best of luck!!

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Emily On Monday, March 5 at 10:36 am

First off, it’s important to know that kids develop at different rates, my oldest didn’t start to really talk until his younger sister (15 months younger) started to talk. He didn’t really start talking until he was 2 1/2. Now he is 5 and communicates very effectively, sometimes a little too much :). That said, the best “material” I know of is the parent and caretakers. I have worked with autistic children and other children who have difficulty with oral communication and the most affective tool I have found is requesting language. For example if your child wants juice, instead of giving it to the child right away you request that they ask for it. Get down to their eye level and say, “if you want juice say ‘juice’.” Then wait for some verbalization; the first several times it may not even sound like juice but if you are consistent the child will eventually say the word and then you can add new words such as “please.” The key is consistency, ask for language on all things. I have also found that using simple sign language can be an effective communication tool for toddlers, it helps them to communicate simple needs and wants while they are still developing the verbal skills. As you say the word make the sign for it, then show the child how to do it with their hands. I have used this for all 3 kids and it is so helpful in reducing frustration on both ends. Plus by using sign language you are teaching an additional language in the process.

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Kim On Monday, March 5 at 10:49 am

As a Speech Language Pathologist it is my professional advice to seek a consultation with a licensed SLP in your area, set up an appointment with Early Childhood Intervention (free), or if almost 3 yrs old set up an appointment with the public school (free) your child would attend to be evaluated. It is difficult to give specific accurate advice without more information.

Developmentally a child 2 years old should be using 50+ words, and putting two word sentences (Momma eat, Daddy go, more please) together to communicate without difficulty.

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Ashley Socks On Monday, March 5 at 10:50 am

I have a little boy who just turned three and a girl who is five. I actually use ABCmouse.com. It is fantastic and it is for ages 2-6. Only $7.95 per month and you can have up to three users. My daughter navigates through her cirriculum herself, but I have to sit and help my son – but he loves it! His lessons are very basic with first words, colors, shapes and letters. Lots of songs and games and printable sheets as well. I have been sharing it with my friends with toddlers. Love this!!

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Melissa A On Monday, March 5 at 10:52 am

My sister was having a similar issue with her son and she took my nephew to an speech therapist to see if there were any physical problems. In my nephew’s case, there was not a physical issue, he just did not like to talk and enjoyed using his imagination privately. The speech therapist gave my sister some exercises to do at home and met with my nephew once a week for about a year. At home, my sister would ask my nephew very specific questions. Not just “how was your day” but “what did you eat for breakfast? Did you like it? What did you do after? Was it fun?”

He is seven now and communicates just fine, and has an excellent vocabulary. He is still quite and only talks when he has something specific to say, but that is a matter of temperament and personality.

If you haven’t already, consider getting your daughter a professional evaluation and take it from there.

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Amy On Monday, March 5 at 10:52 am

Hi, I am sorry…I don’t have any suggestions. But I do look fwd to any comments. I also have a 2 year old who has just been referred to speech therapy, because he isn’t speaking as much as the docs think he should be at this point. Hang there & good luck!!

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Kim G. On Monday, March 5 at 10:55 am

I am currently in school for Speech-Language Pathology, so I am not a licensed professional, but I was recently introduced to a website that may help: http://www.speakingofspeech.com. The site is geared toward teachers, parents, and SLPs and gives a ton of resources and activites. If you haven’t done so already, you may want to consult your physician to rule out any possible medical problems. Mild hearing loss, even frequent ear infections, can cause speech delays.

Have you tried sign language? There are many good DVD series out there for teaching children sign language. My second child was non verbal until he was almost three years old. He was born a month early and I really worried about it. I talked to my pediatrician about it every time I took him in. The doctor assured me everytime that he was alright and that he would talk when he was ready. I still worried. Sure enough just before his third birthday, he began talking. He didn’t start with just words. He began talking in sentences. He was just lazy and didn’t want to put forth the effort. He is 9 now and a very verbal child. As a parent you HAVE to follow your gut instinct but also know that each child is different and follows a different timeline for achievement of milestones. Hope this helps!

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Uschi On Monday, March 5 at 10:56 am

No comment yet? Well, let me give you a simple advice then: speak to your child as much as possible, communicate with your toddler, tell him/her, what you do, name things and just interact with him/her. That’s all a child at this age needs.

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Mary On Monday, March 5 at 11:02 am

Hi! Great question! I am a speech path who used to work with toddlers in various environments including their homes. Couple of things I would suggest- not necessarily online, but things to try. First of all, I am assuming that there is SOME verbal interactions. otherwise you might look into this situation through an evaluation. If you are talking about MORE speaking try these suggestions:
1. Narrate life. Talk your way through doing things interjecting questions. For example- if the child is brushing her teeth talk about teeth brushing as you do it and then ask- what is your favorite color for tooth brushes? If you are looking for more than one word answers ask more openended questions like “What does the toothpaste taste like?’ ” I think it tastes like PANCAKES” – inject toddler humor when possible
2. Ask questions after an event – if you just went to rhe store- What was your favorite thing we got? What do you NOT want to eat that we bought? What do you want to do AFTER we get home?
3. Opinions are good avenues – What color skirt do you want to wear today? Why?
4. Singing songs is a good verbal avenue in…at least they are verbalizing! Also you can make up songs for routines – kids like this- especially if you inject their names – When my son had nudist tendencies as a toddler we would sing a Pants On song that I made up ending with “Pants!Pants! Pants!, Dan has to wear his Pants!!”. I know. But he liked it and joined in.
5. Play guessing games – what is in the bag? Let the child guess what is in the bag – talk about why that is their guess.
6. Read familiar stories and have the child tell you what will happen next. OR have the child “read” to a toy or sister etc. Have them ” be Mom” and tell the story with the pictures.
7. Pretend to be the pet talking. Say “I think Spot is thinking- When are we going to play outside- what do you think Spot is thinking??”
8. There is always the classic- “We have ways to make you talk trick”- withold something until they “use words” to ask for it. Have them repeat expanded sentences before they get the thing.
Just another tip- kids often talk more when doing something else at the same time. Washing dishes (when hands are busy) etc. seems to invite kids to talk more.
Hope there are some ideas you can use.

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Stephanie On Monday, March 5 at 11:02 am

My son sometimes doesn’t verbalize well. He used to not verbalize at all. So I started teaching him sign language. My focus was to get him to communicate, not focusing on verbalization so much. He is verbalizing more now, so I feed him one word at a time, showing him how to string sentences together.

It all boils down to time. Grab her toys, her books (especially repetitive ones like “Brown, Bear, Brown Bear”), and get her involved with conversations about those things.

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Julie S On Monday, March 5 at 11:07 am

My son is about to be 3. He has a 6-8 month speech delay and has been working with Early Childhood Intervention for 18 months. He jabbers quite a bit with words thrown in here and there. He is slowly beginning to use words to communicate. It is so challenging to get him to verbalize his needs. The speech pathologist encourages labeling and tons of verbalizing on the parent’s part. Repetition is the key. Sometimes I feel I cannot possibly label/talk anymore – but it has paid off since he is slowly beginning to converse! Continue to label everything and try to get her to repeat what you say. Every day I see more progress in his verbalization. We read a lot of books, use a lot of flash cards and label, label, label everything we see and do! Good luck!

My 2 1/2 year old is currently in speech therapy because of a delay. His therapist has a smart board in her office and uses the websites Starfall.com and scholastic.com. The starfall website has letters and words that she uses to get my son to talk. It’s colorful and fun and he loves it. The Scholastic one has familiar characters like Clifford the big red dog. She uses a hide and seek game with my son and he has to name what Clifford is hiding under to find him. Simple words like ball, light, bone, etc. I’m sure you’ll find ways to encourage your little one to verbalize! We have an iPad and have downloaded an app called Laugh and Play. It has songs, colors, sounds (la, la, la, etc) and is a lot of fun too. My son loves it. There are apps that you can install that can be helpful too, if you have an apple product. Hope these resources help! My 4 1/2 year old spent 2 years in speech therapy as well, so I know how anxious you feel about your child not speaking/verbalizing. Keep your chin up!! Blessings!

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Julie On Monday, March 5 at 11:17 am

Hi there~I saw your post and, as a pediatric Speech therapist, I wanted to give you a resource. Every state has an Early Intervention program. They can evaluate your child and give you recommendations for what you can do to encourage your child to communicate more. The hard part is that you cannot MAKE your cild speak. THEY need to feel the need to communicate without it being a power struggle. If your child doesn’t have 50 words that she uses on her own to ask for things, name things, or protest about, I would contact your state’s EI program or a local Speech Therapist to rule out anything else that may be going on. There are lots of blogs/websites by SLP’s with helpful hints to encourage your child to communicate more, too.
Good luck!

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Rona On Monday, March 5 at 11:19 am

In Texas there is a program for children birth-3 years of age that have developmental delays or disabiities. A Texas Early Childhood Intervention program can be found in every county. Many states have a similiar program. In Texas the program is homebased. Services such as Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy,etc… are provided in the home with parent participation. Natural environments are more appropriate for young children. You could contact the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services 1-800-628-5115 or go online. If you are in another state they may be able to put you in contact with a program in your state. These programs have a wide range of resources and information to assist you. Home programs are designed to assist families in helping their children with delays or disabilities.
There is a book “Help Me Talk-A Parents Guide to Speech and Language Stimulation Techniques for Children 1 to 3 Years” that is very helpful. Pi Communictation Materials
1-804-934-0447. You may be able to contact them to purchase a copy. It is 20 pages, easy to read and has great suggestions. However, I am not sure if individual copies can be purchased.

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Crystal On Monday, March 5 at 11:36 am

I am by no means an expert…just a regular ole mother of 2 girls. lol I was the director of a daycare for several years and during years of childcare I dealt with several children that were very similar to your daughter. One was 3 and it turned out that he wasn’t at all delayed like we thought. He just didn’t have a lot to say. He wasn’t interested in talking to us on a day to day basis…only when he was ready. When we talked about letters, numbers, finger plays…he had no interest. Now, you sit down next to him at lunch time and ask him about a frog or a 4-wheeler and he’d tell you ALL about it. Try and find something your daughter is just head over heels about and work from there. I also found out that kids love to communicate through songs. Does you daughter like to sing and dance? Maybe incorporate these into your daily routine and see if that will help. Most of our curriculum came with songs that would help re-inforce what was in the lesson for the day. I know these aren’t the best suggestions, but hopefully one will help. Good luck to you and your little one! =D

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Tracieglynn On Monday, March 5 at 11:37 am

Hello Melissa,
As the mother of three daughters, and the grandmother of five and a babysitter of too many to count, the one thing that I never did was talk “baby talk” to any of them. I always talked to them like I would talk to another adult. I also read to them alot. Especially books where I could have them interact with me. Sometimes it just takes some children a little longer than others to become more vocal. I hope that this helps a little and God Bless.

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Tina On Monday, March 5 at 11:39 am

Well, now, I know this isn’t exactly what you want to hear, but I would ease off any formal homeschooling ideas until she’s older. That includes any online things.

Has she been checked out developmentally on target? If so, then some kids just don’t talk as much. Just have fun with her in non-pressure ways – if she’s at all sensitive, the pressure might make her less likely to talk. How about playing games of pretend, take her on nature walks, go to a kids’ museum, crafts, etc? Things that don’t force her to talk, but might let her verbalize without thinking too much about it.

I can tell you are a bit worried, and you obviously have a heart full of love for her.

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Tricia On Monday, March 5 at 11:40 am

My child began life talkative, but I also recieved some very good advice from others to encourage communication between us:
1. Do not “talk down” to a young child, using baby talk, etc.
2. Ask questions that do not have “yes” or “no” answers
3. Limit screen time to as little as possible.
This advice worked well.

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Mary On Monday, March 5 at 11:41 am

Great Question! I am a speech path who used to service toddlers and their families across lots of settings including the home setting. I have some ideas that you might like to try- first of all though, if you are talking about a toddler who doesn’t speak at all, then you might want to look into a speech evaluation. However if you are just talking about expanding what your toddler is saying here are some ideas-
1. Narrate life. Talk about what you are doing all the time that you are doing it. If you are brushing teeth, talk about every step. Interject questions like – I think the toothpaste tastes like PANCAKES! What do you think the toothpaste tastes like? (interject toddler humor here:0)
2. RIght after an event, talk about the event. Ask more questions – after you go to the grocery store ask “What is your favorite thing that we bought?” ” Why?” “DO you want to eat it with ___?” Again humor here is fun – “Do you want to eat the cookies with some nice cat food?”- “Why not?” What do you not want to eat that we bought? What do you want to do after we get home?
3. Read read read to toddlers- it increases their vocabulary. Talk the pictures. Ask the child to take turns “reading” familiar parts of a story – have them be “mom” and “read the book” to pets, toys etc.
4. Sing! Song is a great avenue for kids to talk for a full sentence. Make up song lyrics to songs you know. Kids love this especially when you interject their name. When my son was a toddler he had nudist tendencies so I made up a song about keeping your pants on that ended Pants! Pansts! Pants! Dan HAS to wear his pants! For real. But he liked it and sang along sometimes.
5. Pretend you are the pet talking. Then ask the child “What do YOU think Spot is thinking??”
6. Ask opinions – toddlers have them. Ask what color skirt she wants to wear. Why? Who do you think wears this color? etc.
** Another tip- kids often talk more when they are busy doinging soemthing else. Washing dishes for example – when their hands are busy they often talk more. Or in the tub with toys.
7. Lastly there is the classic “We have ways to make you talk” thing – withhold something they want until they “Use their words” to ask for it. Expand on her utterances and have her repeat the modeled full sentence or phrase. Don’t accept one word answers before they get the target thing.
Hope these suggestions are helpful!

There is a great website, http://www.abcjesuslovesme.com, which provides free pre-school curriculum! It is comprehensive and fun, and very well laid out. Hope this helps. Oh, and you can also purchase the bound hard-copy from her, as well as dowload it to your Kindle or other pad/devise.

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Ilene On Monday, March 5 at 11:56 am

Melissa-
I too am the parent of a 2 year old and I’m a consultant for kids with special needs. I have a master’s degree in special education and have worked at home and in schools with kids with developmental delays. That said, the most valuable thing I’ve learned about working with toddlers is that reinforcement is a very powerful motivator for shaping the behavior of kids. Offering them the chance to get something they want (love, attention, tangible rewards) can really help increase a behavior (such as talking, expressing emotions, etc.). That said, helping your toddler understand what is expected (that she use her words, for example) will help her to succeed. I recommend using pictures or real examples for your toddler and practicing what you want her to say and when, so that she gets in the habit. For example, if you want her to tell you more often what she wants or needs (bathroom, snack, toy, activity), make a few picture cards of common items (such as favorite foods, books or toys) and make them available to her to make choices with. Practice using the cards to talk about the activities or events, then leave them out so that she can take them whenever she wants. Remind her that she needs to tell you with words what she wants when she picks a picture. Pair this with reinforcement (praise, a treat, a hug, etc.) and soon she’ll be using her words in no time!
Below are 2 links for websites that have great pictures and resources

TruckGirl On Monday, March 5 at 12:07 pm

Google “playingwithwords365″ This is a blog by a speech-language pathologist. She has wonderful ideas for parents.

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Casey M On Monday, March 5 at 12:15 pm

I have three children. All developed at their own rates. Barring some kind of development barrier I have to tell you that her level of verbalization is TOTALLY normal. Shes two! My third child didn’t really start talking much until she hit two and a half, then the words began to flow a bit more freely. Keep reading to her, doing activities, puzzles, games, etc while you talk through them and she’ll pick up as her brain matures.

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Amanda On Monday, March 5 at 12:16 pm

Talk to her. Tell her where you are going, the names of streets, stores, people, etc. More than likely she is taking everything in and will have a vocabulary explosion at some point. You could also teach her to sign. It might sound counterintuitive, but I found that (at least with my dumplin’) as his signing increased so did his vocabulary.

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April On Monday, March 5 at 12:21 pm

Sorry, I have no suggestions. But I am interested in the subject, so I wanted to comment! I also have a 2 year old. He “talks” (jibber-jabber), but we can’t make out most of it. Doctor says it is no worry, but I’d like to help him in this area if I can. Thanks!

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Karen (mom of 7) On Monday, March 5 at 12:23 pm

When our kids were just learning to talk, I would often encourage them to ASK for what they wanted with WORDS rather than grunts or whines or pointing. When you’re trying to help them, say the word and have them repeat it. Reward them when you can tell they’ve made a genuine effort in repeating what you say. Reward their efforts! Don’t reward them with the desired object if they pitch a fit, stomp their foot, scream or cry. Don’t get frustrated. When you know they’re old enough to verbalize, but they refuse to use words, sweetly kiss them on the head and tell them they will get what they want when they use their words, then walk away. Frustration and/or anger from the parent doesn’t help things along. Keep it light. Keep it fun. Add lots of smiles, hugs, and kisses. This season will be over soon enough. Enjoy your little one!

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Dawn On Monday, March 5 at 12:25 pm

I took the Hanen course-through my local hospital. It was a great course on cueing my toddler to talk. I think you could probably find the book online. Now is he 8 and doesn’t stop talking!

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Stacey On Monday, March 5 at 12:29 pm

I always found that books with music were a great way to get my kids to verbalize. Just humming was great. Books with songs and cds like, “The Wheels on the Bus.” Wish I wasn’t at work, or I’d have the titles! Good luck!

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Amber On Monday, March 5 at 12:57 pm

Melissa – I’m a Mom of a 4 year old that didn’t vocalize a lot as a 2 year old. My little boy and I communicated well enough through gesturing and make shift sign language that we got along alright. We did have times that he would just get frustrated because I couldn’t understand what he needed or wanted. Right after his second birthday I went seeking a refearal to speech. At our initial evaluation my son scored very low in expressive language (he speech) but above average on cognative ability (what he understood). Essentially, he understood what was going on around him and what people were asking, but he was not able to communicate his end. We started speech therapy once a week and within 11 months he had almost caught back up with his age group. We started by using sign language with the word to encourage him. Things like thank you, hello, you’re welcome, and colors are great. He very quickly found that he could sign the word and I understood exactly what he was trying to tell me. Because of the he was encouraged to attempt to produce the sound. Since then we have moved to producing multiple syllybols and even sentences. Now, 2 years later, his approxia is hard to catch unless he is excited or unsure of himself. We still attend speech therapy once a week which he loves! We are now onto articulation. The help and guidence from a professional has definately made things easier for both of us.

This is just part of my story. My son has been read to and talked to his entire life. I don’t think his speech delay has been due to lack of stimulus. I honestly think that early intervention is the best route.

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Melissa Brundige On Monday, March 5 at 1:34 pm

I first would recommend a specialist on ears and have their hearing checked. My twin boys are age two and was not talking much. I kept insisting something was wrong. I was right they have moderate hearing problems and have had to have tubes put in.

After this is done work on a word a week till they say it. I am not making boys say drink before I get them a drink. Snack before they get something. This is helping their vocabulary tremendously.

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K On Monday, March 5 at 1:46 pm

Another suggestion – make sure she has a LOT of time with other children.

If you’re really concerned about your child being a late talker, I HIGHLY recommend the book “Play to Talk.” It’s written for parents and it very easy to understand. The principles are effective no matter what the reason your child is late in learning to talk.

Beth On Monday, March 5 at 2:02 pm

I’m not sure how verbal your child is, but my daughter’s preschool teacher suggested using the w questions (who, what, etc.) to get her to fully express her ideas. So even when I know what she’s talking about, I prod her to get her to include all the elements of the idea/story.

Reading books with no words (like the Carl series) is another idea I haven’t seen commented on above. Then they can tell you the story. Or favorites that they already know the story.

Of course, talking a ton in clear, concise, adult language is the best thing. Lots of singing. Patience – waiting for them to say it themselves and waiting for it all to click. I have definitely noticed that there are times that my daughter’s speaking improves vastly over a short period of time. Usually after a visit from my parents. All the extra attention sure pays off!

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58Teresa On Monday, March 5 at 2:50 pm

Do you have an AC Moore store near you? I just found “conversation” cards there – they have them for children and adults – looked really cool. And the woman behind the counter said she got them and loved them with her kids.

I was in your exact position a few months ago. Our son just turned 3 in February and just started talking in December! We got his hearing screened (it was fine) and got Early Childhood Intervention involved. They tried all kinds of things like teaching him a couple of words in baby sign to decrease his frustration. Keep reading to him (he loves to read.) I used to hate hearing this, but I will say it anyway, he just needed to take his time. Within the past four months he went from saying Mama, Dada, ya and no to making full sentences. There is hope, but I do recommend talking to ECI to see if they can help. Sometimes children will preform better for someone other than mom or dad.

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Caroline B. On Monday, March 5 at 4:28 pm

Stay away from movies, computer, and TV for now, and READ, READ, READ to your child!